When Angelica Negrete left Colombia with her husband due to safety concerns, she had to start over from scratch in the U.S., including learning a new language, building new connections, and adapting to a new system.
With her background in business, she knew she had transferable skills and saw the landscape industry as a blank canvas.
“I began learning the trade from the ground up, blending my business and operational know-how with a desire to bring more professionalism, innovation, and care into the field,” Negrete says.
Negrete started out managing public sector highway maintenance contracts and gained field experience that helped her understand both the technical and structural gaps in small businesses. She also deepened her technical knowledge through certifications like the Florida Certified Landscape Inspector, Landscape Management, and Florida-Friendly Landscaping.
Negrete then started her business, Royal Gardens Landscaping & Design, based in Plantation, Florida, in 2018.
“While working as a commercial banker, I met countless entrepreneurs whose stories moved me and fueled my true passion for business,” Negrete says. “Some were bold, some just starting out, but all of them shared something powerful: courage. That inspired me to take a leap of my own. I saw the opportunity to build on my past trades experience and meet the need for landscaping companies that didn’t just create beautiful spaces but also uplifted people and professionalized the industry.”
As the company owner, Negrete oversees their customer relations, leads hiring and coaching, marketing and community outreach, and reviews and balances the business finances. She says she balances this with her responsibilities of being a mother of two.
She says her favorite thing about running her business is building with intention.
“Whether it’s business development, creating an internal SOP, KPIs, or mentoring someone who never saw themselves in this industry, I see the company as a tool for transformation,” Negrete says. “I’ve built streamlined workflows, cost control systems, and growth models that allow our work to be both creative and scalable.”
One thing she has learned along her career path is that leadership isn’t about control – it’s about clarity, systems and building trust.
“Over time, I’ve learned how to manage cross-functional teams by creating structure, setting clear expectations, and empowering people to grow into their strengths,” she says. “Developing replicable systems, defining performance indicators, and fostering open communication have allowed my business to grow beyond me. That shift not only improved our operations, it also gave my team the confidence and ownership they needed to thrive.”
Negrete says she inspires her team by leading by example, providing structure, making them feel valued and letting them see the impact of their work.
“I also invest time in training and supporting my team and my mentees, helping them discover their strengths and grow into leadership roles,” she says.
Negrete says mentorship has shaped every chapter of her journey in the landscape industry, learning from other contractors and educators from UF/IFAS, as well as female business leaders. She also gives back and supports other women in the industry as an official mentor with the Small Business Administration’s SCORE.
“My goal is to help others see that this isn’t just a job — it’s a scalable, respected career path with room for them to lead and thrive,” Negrete says.
Negrete has also learned that what she once viewed as being her biggest obstacle has turned out to be her greatest strength. She’d discovered to look past the labels of woman and entrepreneur and has focused on her capabilities.
“It becomes real when we deliver, when we show up, and when our results speak louder than any stereotype ever could,” she says. “I’ve had to push through doubts, break expectations, and rise above the noise. But in doing so, I’ve built something stronger than success: proof. Proof that persistence, vision, self-belief and systems are more powerful than any box society tries to put us in.”
She says she sees change through the lens of participation.
“Giving others the opportunity to bring their ideas, dreams, and talents to the table is a driver of innovation and prosperity,” Negrete says. “My vision is to be part of this change by serving as a connector between realities and differences, building bridges that link communities, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders to a future that embraces true equality for the common good.”
Negrete says her goal isn’t only to succeed in landscaping but to demonstrate that with the right structure and purpose, any business can become a tool for social impact, workforce development, and community transformation.
“We shape physical environments, but more importantly, we shape lives,” Negrete says. “Whether it’s developing new customers, helping an employee find stability, showing a young professional that they belong in this space, or helping a new entrepreneur enter or grow in the industry, the impact is tangible.”
In five years, Negret sees herself expanding her impact beyond her own company. She wants to help other professionals, teams, and organizations unlock their full potential.
“The goal is not just personal success — it’s to leave behind tools, models, and a mindset that others can use to grow even further,” she says.
This article will also be published in the Nov/Dec issue of the magazine. To read more stories from The Edge magazine, click here to subscribe to the digital edition.
